Absentee ballot data not looking good for Democrats

One of the keys to Barack Obama's victory in Ohio in 2008 was the early voting game. Ohio Democrats tapped into the enthusiasm advantage they had and got their voters to vote early in overwhelming numbers. On election day itself, John McCain actually won. But Obama had such a large lead with votes already banked, that he won Ohio and put the nail in McCain's coffin.

We have analyzed some polls this year that used ridiculous samples with Democrats outnumbering Republicans by 8 points or more. For example, a recent NBC/WSJ/Marist poll used a Dem +10 sample, and the latest Ohio poll used a preposterous sample with 48% Democrats.

We have argued that these polls are not accurate because in 2008, which was the height of the blue Obama wave, Democrats outnumbered Republicans by 8 points on election day. One of our trolls countered that since every single voter got an absentee ballot application in the mail this year, that Democrat turnout would further increase.

Democrat Ohio Sheriff thinks he is above the law

The Dispatch published an article Wednesday about the Franklin County Sheriff’s recent decision to park his car in a handicapped-only parking space. Sheriff Zachary Scott was campaigning at the Franklin County Fair’s Junior Baking Auction, and he must have been in a hurry to bid on a batch of fresh-baked cupcakes because he left his car in a clearly marked handicapped-only spot.

Sheriff Scott says he made an “honest mistake.” He complains that the pavement wasn’t marked, and I guess the bright blue reflective signs posted at eye level all along the row must have escaped his attention as well.

Media picks up on 3BP story about Bellefontaine Mayor

Earlier this week, some additional media outlets followed up on our story about Bellefontaine mayor Adam Brannon, who has decided to only work a part time job and depend on government assistance to feed his children.

Here is an interview I did with Maggie Thurber who was guest hosting on WSPD in Toledo.

Presidential Embarrassment

President Obama has always had a deferential relationship with China, but comments he made in the past few days are particularly disconcerting. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, President Obama explained that he has been unwilling to tackle China’s blatant currency manipulation and other foreign trade violations for fear of “embarrassing China.” That, he said, would lead to an “all-out trade war.”

Obama bows to Hu Jintao

More of Obama's entitlement nation in Ohio

Why should you vote for Barack Obama? Because he gives free phones.



"Keep Obama in President, you know?" I'm betting she's a Plunderbund reader.

This is how you attract jobs to Ohio

Last week, Ohio continued to get more good news on the jobs front. Alexander Mann Solutions was looking for a place to open it's first office in the U.S. They looked at several communities in other states, including North Carolina, Florida and Texas. But they chose Cleveland to build their North American headquarters, which will bring around 300 good paying jobs.

Governor Kasich's mission to make Ohio business-friendly again is paying off. Take a look at how the company was impressed by the energy coming from the administration in landing their location.

Victory 2012: All About The Turnout

Recently, poll after poll keeps finding President Obama ahead of Mitt Romney here in the Buckeye State. There’s more than a few reasons for that—not the least of which is the completely biased sampling—but there’s one consistent stat from every recent poll:

Independents are siding with Romney.

• Fox News: Romney +4% among Independents
• Quinnipiac: Romney +1% among Independents
• Ohio Newspaper Poll: Romney +27% among Independents
• Public Policy Polling: Romney +2% among Independents
• Purple Strategies: Romney +10% among Independents

So what does that mean for this election? It’s going to be all about the turnout.

Hysterical: Sherrod Brown claims to be pro-business

Sherrod Brown sat down with the editors of the Cincinnati Enquirer today. What he told them made my jaw drop.

Despite the fact that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is running ads against him, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown said Wednesday, he has been a strong advocate for business in his first term.

“I think I’ve worked with business better than any senator in recent memory,” the Democrat said in an interview with Enquirer editors and reporters, citing his relationships with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

You have got to be kidding me.

Sherrod Brown says he is a champion of business

The ridiculous bias at Politifact Ohio

If you follow Sherrod Brown or any of his cohorts on Twitter, you hear a LOT from them about how Politifact Ohio has given several "Pants on Fire" verdicts to Josh Mandel. It's also the centerpiece of one of Brown's ads, (which also makes use of an anti-Semitic phrase against Mandel, who is Jewish.)

Politifact Ohio is a project of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Sherrod Brown is married to Connie Schultz, who used to be the paper's star columnist. (Until we caught her doing political work, that is.) So, any editorial work from the PD involving Brown was already slightly suspect.

But what Jason Hart from Media Trackers Ohio has discovered about Politifact Ohio is truly troubling.

Cancel this Sister Act... Please!

The Obama for America campaign has released a new video in Ohio. This web advertisement consists of a nun from Cincinnati, along with a mother from Warren, Ohio. It saddens me, that a member of the Dominican Sisters of Hope, is drinking the Obama kool-aid.

Ohio Poll Buys In To Liberal Media Bias

It's pretty well known that the national media has been going to bat for President Obama this election season.  If there was any doubt about that, it was swept away by last week's coverage of Romney's '47%' comment all while the White House lied and covered up details on the murder of an American ambassador in the Middle East.

Sherrod Brown's Wall of Shame

It is truly ridiculous that a moderate swing state like Ohio is represented by the most liberal member of the U.S. Senate. Sherrod Brown's voting record and his various statements and actions over the last 2-3 years are equally appalling.

We've tried to stay on top of all of Sherrod Brown's outrageous antics here at 3BP. What follows is a compilation of the stories that stand out the most. "Sherrod Brown's Greatest Hits", so to speak. Or more appropriately, "why Sherrod Brown doesn't deserve reelection."

Bellefontaine reporter facing discipline for calling you "bigots"

This story just took another strange turn.

Last week, we told you about the Bellefontaine mayor who uses federal welfare programs.

Brannon claims poverty, but his situation is entirely of his own making. Both he and his wife have college degrees, but have purposefully decided to live on only $27,000 a year. Fine. That's his business and his alone.

Until he demands that the rest of us actual taxpayers actually feed the children he decided to have. Not only is he irresponsible, he dares to act like a victim. Just like Romney described.

Then, a couple of days later, I got a nasty response from a writer at the Bellefontaine Examiner after forwarding the link to the paper.

Want to do more to help elect Mitt Romney?

If so, then consider joining the Election Day Task Force. Volunteers will spend their day at a polling location and use their smartphone or tablet to check off a list of voters as they arrive to vote.

This information will be sent to headquarters and give them real-time information on what is happening and enable them to get out the vote. I am using a vacation day to take the day off for this effort, and I hope many of our readers can do the same.

Sign up to volunteer here. At the bottom of the form where it asks "Where did you hear about our election day project?", go ahead and answer "Third Base Politics".

We need people at as many precincts around Ohio as possible. Let's get this done.

Follow @Nick3BP

The Bellefontaine Examiner says you're a bigot

Our Wednesday post about the Bellefontaine mayor generated a lot of interest and commentary. So I forwarded the link to the Bellefontaine Examiner, thinking it might be of interest to them, but not really expecting a response.

Well, we did get a response, and it is quite revealing as to the supposed objectivity of the small town newspaper. The following is the complete response.

Of course the post generated a lot of traffic and emotion, you threw a bunch of red meat at a group of judgmental, conservative bigots.

One Nation, Under Obama

Well, what do YOU think is more important?  Fifty meaningless little stars, or the man that was sent to us from above to put gas in your car, make your house payments, and stop the rising of the seas?

For some background information, see Katie Pavlich's article here, and make sure to read LUR's diary here as well.

Betty Sutton: Nancy Pelosi's little Ohio puppet

Congresswoman Betty Sutton is Ohio's version of Nancy Pelosi. In fact, she's really a Pelosi wannabe. She has voted with her 99% of the time. When Nancy says "Jump, Betty!", instead of asking how it will affect Ohio, Betty's only response is "How high!? Tell me what to do, Nancy!"

• Sutton voted for the failed stimulus bill
• She voted for cap and trade, which would destroy Ohio's coal industry
• She voted for Obamacare and it's massive new taxes
• She even voted for the union bosses' dream of card check, which would strip workers of the private ballot and open them up to union thug intimidation.

Watch this new ad that highlights Betty Sutton's voting record.



Even more fun, thanks to the Congressional Leadership Fund, you can pretend to be Nancy Pelosi and pull Betty's strings!

Democrat Ohio Mayor is a proud citizen of Entitlement Nation

Adam Brannon is the mayor of Bellefontaine. Mayor Brannon is an absolutely perfect example of the entitlement culture that is taking over America and bankrupting our country. Adam, like most Democrats, believes that it is his right to force his fellow citizens to subsidize all of the many irresponsible life decisions he has made.

Check out a recent Facebook post he made:

Let's look at Mayor Brannon's life decisions:

Won't Back Down: Putting Children First

"When schoolchildren start paying union dues, that's when I'll start representing the interests of school children."- Albert Shanker, President, American Federation of Teachers (1974 - 1997).

In today's education system, the quote says it all.  Whether you believe unions are 100% in the right, or whether you're a right-to-work supporter, the fact remains: if union representatives cared about the kids, schools throughout the United States wouldn't be failing right and left.

That's just the way it is; and if you don't believe me, just look at the hundreds of thousands of children left wandering the streets of Chicago while unionized educators scoff at their $76,000 yearly salary.

Quantitative Easing - What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

Making money out of thin air... what could possibly go wrong?

Cross-posted: TobyToons.com (Conservative Political Cartoons)

Vote NO on Issue 2

Fate is a cruel mistress. And Ohio’s labor unions are about to learn that first hand.

In a fantastic twist of fate, the same union special interests that spent a royal fortune on inducing Ohioans to vote against their safety and welfare with a ‘No’ vote on State Issue 2 just over 300 days ago, are now met with convincing those same Ohioans to vote against their interests with a ‘Yes’ on State Issue 2 this November.

That’s right, folks.

Photo Courtesy WeAreOhio

Sherrod Brown's Job-Killing Energy Policies: Bad for Ohio, Bad for America

Written by Joshua Culling of Americans for Tax Reform, reprinted here with permission

Brown's legacy: Less domestic energy, slower job creation, higher energy prices in Ohio and across the country.

Gas prices are on the rise again in Ohio, squeezing family budgets even tighter as the economy fights headwinds from D.C. in its attempt to recover. It’s time to take a hard look at Sen. Sherrod Brown’s long record of opposing energy policies that promote job creation and affordable energy across the country.

Here’s a breakdown of Sherrod Brown’s votes for the radical environmental lobby, and against American families and job creators:

Keystone Pipeline: Not only did Brown vote against approval of the Keystone XL pipeline; he voted for an amendment that would have prohibited the export of crude oil transported by the Keystone Pipeline. The pipeline would have promoted job creation, energy security, and economic growth in general.

Chicago Teachers Union Seeing Red

Maybe instead of demanding a 35% pay increase over 4 years, they should focus on increasing student reading proficiency to 35% in that same time.

 Cross-Post: TobyToons.com

Obama Floundering Among 59% Of Ohioans

Leave it to a Democrat pollster to spin poll numbers in favor of Obama.  The new Public Policy Polling poll, out earlier this week, has Obama up 5 in the Buckeye State.  That much is enough for the polling outfit to call the state for Obama:

“It’s hard to see a path to victory for Mitt Romney without Ohio,” said Dean Debnam, President of Public Policy Polling.

Hard to see, huh?  I guess she must have missed the fact that Romney leads among Republicans and Independents, who made up 59% of those polled.

11 years

9/11/2001 to our generation is the equivalent to previous milestone American events like Pearl Harbor and the JFK assassination. We will probably be repeating these types of remarks and recollections for many years to come on this day on the calendar.

Sometimes to me it seems repetitive, and that we say the same things every year, but that's OK. I think its part of the healing process, and it also ensures that we never forget neither the horrors of that day, nor the heroism that we witnessed.

Courtesy of Marc Kovac from Ohio Capital Blog, here is a short video of remarks that Governor Kasich made this morning amid the sprawling field of flags representing those we lost.


Shaky video courtesy Ohio Capital Blog

Follow @Nick3BP

Mitt Romney visits Mansfield business, airbase Obama plans to close

Mitt Romney came to Mansfield today to rally supporters. As we discussed a few weeks ago, Barack Obama also came to Mansfield recently, albeit only to land and then go to Akron. When he did, Air Force 1 landed at Lahm Air Force Base, whose mission housing the 179th Air Lift Wing is scheduled to be terminated under Obama's plans.

Over 1000 jobs will be lost in Richland County if Obama's planned cuts go into effect here.

Mitt Romney landed at the same base and spoke to the officer in charge of the mission.

Romney’s jetliner touched down at Mansfield Lahm Airport just before 1 p.m., after which Romney spoke briefly with Lt. Col. Michael Howard with the Air National Guard’s 179th Airlift Wing stationed at the airport.

Romney then headed for PR Machine Works, where the rally was held. It was very encouraging to see such a huge and enthusiastic crowd turn out for Mitt. Over 1200 were packed into the factory. The fire marshall wouldn't allow in more than that, and there were hundreds more outside who stayed just to hear Mitt.

Sherrod Brown: Unemployment creates jobs

Some stuff you just can't make up.

Sherrod Brown proves it often with his complete lack of understanding of how an economy actually works. I suppose when your understanding of economics is based on a degree in Russian studies and listening to union bosses, statements such as "Everybody knows that government creates jobs" should be expected, but they are still jaw-dropping to actually hear come out of the mouth of a supposedly educated man.

The Sherrod quote we have for you today is no different. We are never surprised to hear such nonsense come from him, but are still shocked nonetheless, probably because of how it shows a complete lack of common sense.

"You Didn't Build That" Explained

There's been a lot made of President Obama's remarks to American business owners that they somehow "didn't build" their businesses.  Words taken for what they mean--and as has been argued here--the president basically told business owners that they weren't responsible for any success they might have.

Of course, the President and his liberal buddies would have you believe it was an innocent comment.

Since the left can't seem to understand why Obama's words were so wrong, a new video breaks it down to a level even a child could comprehend:

At the end of the day, no matter what Obama "meant" by his words, what he said was an insult not only to American business owners, but to the American way of life: that through hard work, you can achieve anything.

Of course, given Obama's background, perhaps he doesn't understand that either.

Not Very Vice-Presidential

Joe Biden has lived up to the expectations of what I labeled his "Biden Gaffes Ohio Tour". Today, Vice-President Joe Biden delivered a speech in Milford, Ohio. Milford is a suburb of Cincinnati. To introduce the Vice-President, the Obama campaign used Gabby Downing, a female social studies teacher from Milford High School.

Ms. Downing is an attractive, middle-aged woman. Gabby and I may disagree on political views, but she seems very intelligent and classy. Far too classy to entertain the comments that Vice-President Biden made as she was leaving the stage. "If I had Gabby teaching me high school, I would have wanted to stay four more years too!", said Joe Biden.

The Democrats will try and spin that as "She's a great teacher, and if he had an excellent teacher like her, he would want to continue learning!". However, given Biden's other womanizing antics over the "Biden Gaffes Ohio Tour", that spin will not work.

Josh Mandel sits down with 3BP

Yesterday morning, Josh Mandel visited the Avon Lake Victory Center in Lorain County. I had already planned to volunteer as part of Buckeye Blitz, and finding out that Josh would be visiting us before we started working was great news.

He had a very busy schedule, starting out with us, then heading to Akron and then back to Columbus to greet fans at the Bucks game. But he still made time to sit down with me for a couple of minutes.

Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel greets volunteers in Avon Lake, OH

3BP: We're here in Lorain County, Avon Lake. Is there anything you'd like to say to voters of Lorain County and Ohio about this campaign? Where you've been, where we are now, and what you'd like to do if elected as a US Senator?

Sherrod Brown invokes Nazis against his Jewish opponent, Josh Mandel

Sherrod Brown is up to his old tricks.

Remember last year when he compared GOP governors John Kasich, Scott Walker and Chris Christie to Hitler and Stalin?

"As a nation, I look back in history and some of the worst governments we've ever had, you know one of the the first thing they did? They went after the trade unions," he said. "Hitler didn't want unions, Stalin didn't want unions. [Former Egyptian President Hosni] Mubarak didn't want independent unions."

To quote fellow blogger Jason Hart, Sherrod Brown claims he's not comparing Kasich, Walker, and Christie to Hitler, Stalin, and Mubarak in the middle of comparing them to Hitler, Stalin, and Mubarak.

Kasich fundraising way ahead of Strickland's

About a month ago, new fundraising reports for state candidates were posted at the SOS website. Let's take a look at Governor Kasich's latest report.

Money raised: $1,380,204
Number of donations: 3968
Expenditures: $282,339
Balance on hand: $1,458,593

OK, so what does that mean? Are those numbers good or bad? Let's compare with Ted Strickland's numbers at the exact same point in his term.

Democrats convention confirms their love for killing unborn babies

This week, we have seen what Democrats are really made of.

First, they omitted any reference to our creator, and then booed adding back the mere mention of God in their party platform. God is mentioned in the Declaration of Independence. I imagine these same people would boo the Declaration as well.

Another thing that was revealing was just how much liberals love abortion. They are not pro-choice. They are pro-abortion. Even worse, they fully affirmed that they are completely in favor of taxpayer-funded abortion.

Dubbed by some as the "abortion convention", nearly every speaker mentioned abortion in a positive manner, including Obama and Biden. We already knew that Obama is a proponent of infanticide. He voted against protections for babies accidentally born alive while he was in the Illinois Senate, ensuring that babies born alive during a failed abortion in Illinois will continue to be left in a janitors closet to slowly die.

If Sandra Fluke really cared about women...

Guest post by Jen Engel

Last night, the Democrat National Convention hosted speakers that perpetuated the supposed "war on women". One of those speakers was Sandra Fluke, the Georgetown Law School Graduate, who thinks we should all pay for her birth control.

Sandra Fluke is not helping advance women's causes. Her vitriol against Republicans just shows her ignorance. I've researched articles that have quotes by Sandra Fluke, and after reading them, I feel sorry for her. Kudos to her for obtaining a graduate degree from a prestigious university. I can appreciate the hard work and determination that is required to get a graduate degree, as I have one. But throughout all that education, it is apparent, you cannot teach common sense.

Sandra Fluke likes to claim she is a women's rights activist and is advocating for women. Let's be clear, you do not speak for me, my sister or my mother, Ms. Fluke. You're trying to turn your 15 minutes of fame into a career. Can someone please tell me what Sandra Fluke does for a living? I've googled this phrase and nothing seems to come up. Her Wikipedia page provided the most insight.

DNC Showing True Colors With Latest "Mistakes"

Democrats and political analysts alike have talked about the opportunity that this week's convention provides for the party to lay out their plan for the country.  As such, they have gone to great lengths to carefully script the week's events.

Well, that didn't last very long.

From "You didn't build that" to "we all belong to the government"

You know, it used to be that Democrats took great pains to hide their inner socialist. Not moonbat liberals like Dennis Kucinich, Code Pink, or even the Plunderpals for that matter, but Democrats who actually wanted to get elected. Those wiser folks privately have always believed that profits are bad, success must be punished and that more government is the answer to every societal problem, but they didn't dare speak it.

Not anymore.

Obama Democrats seem to think its a good thing to tell business owners that, of course, they weren't the ones responsible for building a successful business that provides job. No, it takes a village to build a business.

Now we have a new one. "We all belong to the government."



I like these new Democrats. I hope they keep saying out loud what they really believe.

Follow @Nick3BP

Top Ten Excerpts from Ted Strickland's speech to the DNC this week

Today Ohio Republican Party Chairman Bob Bennett made the following statement on Governor Ted Strickland's keynote speech at the Democratic National Convention.

The Democratic National Convention is apparently so desperate for speakers they actually have Ted Strickland on the schedule. Whoever decided to give a speaking role to a fired governor responsible for 400,000 lost jobs ought to have their head examined...but then again, I've been saying that about the Democrats for years.

We have obtained Governor Strickland's speech, and here are our top ten excerpts from the keynote address. Enjoy!

Dems Pick Perfect Speaker in Former Gov. Strickland

Over the last four years, President Obama has been at the helm of some pretty historic occasions:

• Job losses numbered in the millions.
• Unemployment reached the highest it’d been in decades.
• The National Debt increased by over 50%.
• S&P downgraded the U.S. credit rating for the first time in U.S. history.

Yep, pretty famous moments for America and its now beleaguered citizenry. Or should we say infamous?

Sherrod Brown, Obamacare and the War on Women

Guest post by Jenny Engel

Stiletto heels are a staple in my closet. I rarely wear anything other than stiletto heels, and fortunately for me, my childhood best friend is a podiatrist.

My choice to wear these heels is just that. My choice. I know the consequences, have heard the myths that heels are related to cancer, and all the other gibberish. But again, it's my choice. I love my heels and wear them every day, sometimes for 14 hours straight.

I've never been one of those believers in the women's lib movement. Maybe it is because of my conservative parents, or as I like to think, parents that have common sense. From day one, it has been instilled in me that you work for everything you have, and accept no handouts. If someone shows you a kind favor, pay it forward. And never, under any circumstances, let someone treat you as if you are less than what you believe you are.

That is why I find it amusing that Senator Sherrod Brown is spouting off that the Republicans are waging a "war on women", or that he is trying to protect women's rights under Obamacare.

Bain Capital entrusted with Ohio teachers retirement funds

The Ohio Education Association is squarely on board with Barack Obama.

They take the money that is legally and forcibly stolen from their members and donate it to the President and his party. They also strongly encourage said forced members to campaign for Obama.

Not content with that, they also engage in attacks on Mitt Romney and his previous experience with Bain Capital. Media Trackers recently exposed how the Columbus Education Association award winner for "Outstanding Member" routinely criticizes Romney on Twitter. Note the teacher-quality spelling and grammar in one example below.

The Choice Is Ours

On Thursday night, Mitt Romney spoke to the American people for the first time as the Republican nominee for president. There were no Greek columns, there were no promises to “slow the rise of the oceans and heal the planet.” This was a speech for the people in this country who are suffering.

Personally, I thought Mitt did an excellent job of introducing himself to Americans who did not know him. I learned things about him as a man that I did not know, and that only made me prouder to have supported him in the primary.

"My promise is to help you and your family,” Romney said.

No doubt, Barack Obama will be back here in Ohio on his campaign. He’s selling a product—his record. He’ll tell us that his policies worked, that the American economy is recovering because of his policies. I won’t bother with refuting him. I’ll just ask you to look around.

Is he right? Is the economy in recovery? Do you feel like things are getting better? Are they better than they were four years ago? Do your friends and family have good jobs? Do you feel like the debt is under control? Do you think that America is secure abroad, and do you feel less concerned about the threats coming from Iran and China?

If the answer to those questions is yes, then you should vote for Barack Obama. And if not?

Mitt Romney is ready to lead.

Follow @Nick3BP